German academics investigated over bribery claims

Germany's academic community is being shaken by doubts cast on the integrity of around one hundred professors.

The professors, working across all academic disciplines at many major German universities, are suspected to have accepted thousands of euros in bribes from the now-insolvent Institute for Scientific Consulting ("Institut für Wissenschaftsberatung") in Bergisch-Gladbach, near Cologne.

The scandal is the latest in a series of investigations into the Institute's business practices. Public prosecutors searched its offices back in 2005 and again in March 2008, after malpractice accusations first emerged.
In July 2008, the managing director of the Institute was sentenced to
three and a half years in prison and a €75000 fine for having paid a
law professor in Hanover up to €4000 to accept PhD candidates, some of
whom did not fulfill the prerequisites for studying towards a PhD. The
law professor was also convicted of accepting bribes.

Files found after the Institute was searched last year created enough
suspicion to trigger the current investigation.

Most of the professors
involved are of junior status, without full tenure, although some tenured
professors are among those being investigated, says Cologne's senior
public prosecutor, Günther Feld.

"This is not about selling PhD titles, but about whether academics
accepted money to take on particular PhD candidates," Feld emphasises.

Even so, there are grave concerns within the academic community. The
federal minister of education, Annette Schavan,
said on Sunday that the credibility of Germany's academic community
could sustain major damage if the accusations turn out to be true.

The president of the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers
(DHV), Bernhard Kempen, said that a thorough investigation of these
cases was urgently needed and that the legitimacy of an agency offering
services to students to help them obtain PhDs should generally be
questioned.

He called for university regulations to require PhD
candidates to sign statements that they have not accepted any outside
help in obtaining their PhDs.

And I thought science and scientists were supposed to be "uncorruptible".

And so, now that scientists have been exposed as human afterall, and therefore subject to the same greed and foibles as any other human being, will the climate alarmists please admit the possibility that at least some of the scientists who have jumped on the AGW bandwagon may have done it all for the money?

All professors are under scanners as it suspects that they have accepted thousands of euros in bribes from the now-insolvent Institute for Scientific Consulting. It is shame on the community of professors.

I think if this suspicion is found to be true then it would be a shame for this prestigious Germany's academic community.People will think twice before going for admission at German Universities.

By eleyrogers
on August 26, 2009 12:49 PM

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Oji
on August 26, 2009 3:55 PM

I don't think anyone has ever claimed that scientists are "incorruptible". There have been many examples of incompetence and dishonesty over the years. The good thing about the scientific method is that by demanding reproducible results it weeds these out.

It doesn't make a lot of sense to try and claim that because a few German academics have accepted bribes, the whole of climate research is suspect. Apart from those scientists you agree with, presumably. Are they incorrubtible?

Paul Mannstein
on August 27, 2009 1:58 AM

Uncle Adolf would have taken care of these swindlers.

John
on August 31, 2009 8:01 PM

Other forms of corruption occur in some science departments. What about those academics (usually middle-aged male) who occasionally gain sexual relations with their own (usually female) young research assistants or students? The other academics smirk, pretend it isn't happening, or pretend it's OK. The brown-noser (or gold-digger) gains a tacit career advantage over her male (or chaste) competitors. If another junior scientist exposes the affair or complains about unequal treatment and conflict of interest, he risks being branded "sexist" or old-fashioned. Otherwise, higher-ups may apply weight, demanding silence for the sake of the departmental reputation. Anyone who has worked in science for a few years can name a few famous professors who're known for dirty episodes of this kind.

?
WadeA
on September 1, 2009 6:31 AM

Can you imagine this? Even our professors are doing such bribery just because of money. This is really humiliation to our educational system, first there are sexual assaults between professor and students and now bribery. I do think even installment loan are not enough to clean your name once you’ve been plead as guilty into this act just for money issues. Phd’s are degree which need to be earn in doing hard work and dedication. Let’s not be greedy over money, try to do things right, because true success could only be obtain with passion to do what is right and persistent that you’ll make it.

Sadly, it is naive to think that professionals in any field can be trusted universally. That is why it is very important to monitor research and verify results before data is used for decision making. All too often, results are "fudged" for financial gain.

Let this be a wake up call.

By roddick
on December 15, 2009 11:43 AM

I agree it and should be obey the rule and regulation of your university.

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